Horse meat scandal: timeline

Ten million suspect burgers have been taken off shelves, including by
retailers Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and Dunnes Stores. Here is how the
horse meat scandal unfolded.

The burgers containing horse DNA were sold by Tesco, Iceland, Lidl and AldiPhoto: PA

5:25AM GMT 08 Feb 2013

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland says beef burgers with traces of equine DNA, including one product classed as 29% horse, are being supplied to supermarkets by Silvercrest Foods in Ireland and Dalepak Hambleton in Yorkshire, subsidiaries of the ABP Food Group.

Ten million suspect burgers are taken off the shelves, including by retailers Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and Dunnes Stores.

A third company, Liffey meats, based in Co Cavan, Ireland, was also found to be supplying products to supermarkets with traces of horse DNA.

January 17

The ABP Food Group suspends work at its Silvercrest Foods plant in Co Monaghan, Ireland, until further notice.

Sainsbury's, Asda and the Co-op later withdrew some frozen products as a precaution, but had not been found to be selling contaminated food.

January 23

Burger King, which is supplied burgers by ABP Food Group, switches to another supplier as a precautionary measure.

January 25

The Department of Agriculture in Ireland reveals it has taken more than 130 samples of burgers and ingredients in the past week from the Silvercrest facility.

Meanwhile Waitrose removes a range of frozen burgers made by Dalepak but says its burgers have been tested and are 100% beef.

The Food Standards Agency said tests at a Dalepak plant in North Yorkshire had found no traces of meat contaminated with horse or pork DNA.

Silvercrest used meat in its products that did not come from a list of approved suppliers and was from outside the UK and Ireland, Tesco says after dropping the company.

January 30

Irish authorities believe ''filler product'' made from horse meat and beef found in contaminated burgers came from Poland, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.

February 4

Production at a second meat supplier, Rangeland Foods in Co Monaghan, is suspended after 75% equine DNA is found in raw ingredients, The Department of Agriculture confirm.

The Department of Agriculture in Ireland call in police to aid their investigation, which includes possible fraud.

ABP Food Group are estimated to have lost 45 million euro (£38 million) in contracts.

February 5

Frozen meat at Freeza Meats company in Newry, Northern Ireland, is found to contain 80% horse meat, The Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland said. It is potentially linked to the Silvercrest factory in the Republic of Ireland.

Asda withdraws products supplied by Freeza Meats.

February 6

Tesco and Aldi take down frozen spaghetti and lasagne meals produced by French food supplier Comigel, following concerns about its Findus beef lasagne.

February 7

The FSA reveals a second case of ''gross contamination'' after some Findus UK beef lasagnes were found to contain up to 100% horse meat. The products were made by French food supplier Comigel.

The authority believes ''criminal activity'' is to blame and orders food companies to test their beef products.

Tesco and Aldi remove its range of ready meals produced by Comigel from its shelves.